Was George H. W. Bush Truly a Realist? Understanding His Approach to International Diplomacy

Was George H. W. Bush truly a realist, or have post-Cold War political debates rewritten his foreign policy legacy? Dr. Samuel Helfont joins hosts Ryan Vest and Sheena Chestnut Greitens to challenge conventional wisdom surrounding the 41st president. Drawing from archival records, National Security Council transcripts, and Bush’s personal diaries, Dr. Helfont argues that Bush’s foreign strategy was deeply rooted in liberal internationalism—prioritizing international law, collective security, democratic development, and multilateral institutions. The discussion explores how Bush exercised "prudence with discipline" across pivotal historic events, including the Gulf War, German unification, Lithuanian independence, and US-China diplomacy following Tiananmen Square.